Typewriting machine



Sept. 10, 1 J. J. KITTEL TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1958 4Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Z24 ATTORNEYS- Sept. 10, 1940; Y J K|TTE|2,214,415

TiPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5' A? ifINVENTOR 7 5 JaizizJifaflel;

. BY I j 5224040 0 ATTORNEY5 Sept. 10,1940. J. J. KITTEL 2,214,415 vTYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 76' 6'INVENTOR B Y]E ZTbJWI Wb0 40 ATTORNEY-3- Patented Sept. 10,- 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT oFFIc v TYPEWRITING MACHINE Application April 25, 1938,Serial No. 204,235

8 Claims (01. 197-153) This invention relates to typewriting machines,and more particularly to ribbon feeding mechanism for typewritingmachines. Mechanism embodying the present invention is, however,especially adapted for the feeding of ribbons or strips of hectograph orother kinds of transfer medium in the use of which it is desirable topresent a complete new or unused portion of the transfer medium, at theprinting line, for each new line of typing.

In the co-pendin'g application of George F. Handley, Serial Number170,451, filed October 22, 1937, there is disclosed and claimed a ribbonfeeding mechanism of this general class which is operable during eachreturn movement of the carriage to feed a length of transfer medium orribbon equal to the length of the line typed during the precedingcarriage letter space movement. Other mechanism of this general class isdisclosed in the co-pending application of Lewis Cary Myers,-SerialNumber 194,921, filed March 9, 1938.

An object of the present invention is to provide a typewriter or likemachine ribbon feed mechanism which will feed a length of ribbon orstrip equal to the'length of the previously typed line.

Another object is to provide a ribbon feeding mechanism of simple yeteflicient construction and in which the parts are compactly arranged andeasily accessible.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the character referred toand including a ribbon feeding element, spring-urged means'mounting itfor movement into operative position, and a locking device for holdingit in inoperative position.

A further object is to provide a ribbon feeding mechanism including arelatively fixed axis feed roll, and a shiftable axis feed roll mountedfor both sliding and pivotal movements with respeet to the fiXed axisroll.

A still further object is to provide a ribbon feeding mechanism operablein response toactuation of a line-spacing lever in a manner to feed astrip of fresh unused ribbon along the printing line of the platencorresponding substantially in length to the length of an average typedline.

Other objects will become apparent from a reading of the followingdescription, the apfpended claims, and the accompanying drawings, 'inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a typewriting machine withusomepartsomitted and showing mechanism embodying my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof; 7 Figure 3 is a view in side orend elevation as viewed when looking in the direction of the *5 arrow 3in Figure 1, some parts being shown in section, and the View being drawnon an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view showing'parts in their normal orstate of rest positions;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side or end elevation as viewed when lookingin the direction of the arrow 5 in Figure 1, some parts being removed,and'the view being drawn on an enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an inverted section taken on the line of Figure 3 with someparts shown in Q0 elevation, and drawn on an enlarged scale;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 with ribbon pressure regulatormeans in retracted position, the section being taken on the line 8--8ofFigure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail view showing a matrix or work sheetinterposed between the usual or conventional typewriter ribbon and ahectograph or other ribbon arranged to be fed in accordance with theinvention; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of feedingmechanism arranged to be operated in response to actuation of the usualline spacing lever. v

The drawings show one embodiment of the invention as applied to a Royalstandard typewriting machine, but it is to be understood that mechanismembodying the invention may be applied to othertypewriting machines.

The machine shown in the drawings includes a stationary main frame A anda carriage generally designated B mounted on the main frame forreciprocatory movements in the usual manner, viz., an intermittent orstep-by-step movement fromright to left which is effected by a motor andan escapement mechanism actuated by the key levers or the space .bar,and a return movement from left to right. Such an escapement mechanismis shown, for example, in the Patent Number 1,212,939, issued January16, 1917, 4

to George F. I-Iandley.

The carriage includes the usual end plates 1 and 2 in which is journaleda platen 3, and also mounted on the carriage are the usual apron 4androllers 5, only one of which is shown (see Figure 9) for feeding amaster sheet C forwardly in front of the platen and thence upwardly infront of the platen. Mounted onthe carriage is a bail including spacedsupporting arms 66 connected at their forward ends by a bar I havingjournaled thereon pressure rollers 88 for directing usual work sheets(when such are used) rearwardly over the platen after they have passedabove the printing line. The arms 6-45 extend from the cross bar Irearwardly over the platen and are pivotally connected as at 9-9 to theupper ends of arms lfl-i which, in turn, are pivotally mounted as at IIon the carriage end plates I, 2. (See Figure 3.) Springs I2 interposedbetween the arms I3 and the carriage end, plates urge the armsdownwardly so as yield-.

ably to hold the pressure rollers 8 against usual work sheets, and thelatter against the platen. Formed integrally with the end plate I is a,laterally extending shelf I3 on which a combined line spacing andcarriage return lever I4 is pivotally mounted as at I5 and is connectedto the platen 3 in the usual manner by means of alink I6 connected to arock arm II, the latter carrying a pawl Iii engageable with a ratchetwheel I9 on the platen (see Figure 4). Ribbon spools 20-213 are shownmounted on the main frame in the usual manner, a reversible inkingribbon 2| being adapted to be unwound from one of the spools 2i] andwound upon the other, as is customary.

The typewriting machine as thus far described is not claimed per se asconstituting the present invention, it being understood that theinvention comprises parts to be hereinafter described and combinationsof such parts with eachother and with the known typewriting machineconstruction already described.

Although the invention is not necessarily restricted to the use ofribbon feed mechanism adapted to be mounted on or applied to typewritingmachines of standard or known construction, it is desirable in manycases to apply the feed mechanism to such machines, and for the purposesof illustration the drawings show an embodiment which may be fittedcompactly to a machine of known construction without substantiallyincreasing the over-all size of the ma chine and without its beingnecessary to alter the machine structure in any material respect.

In the form shown, a roll ribbon supply generally designated D ismounted at the right hand end of the carriage, andthe hectograph orother transfer medium ribbon 22 is arranged to be fed from the rollalong the printing line of the platen in a manner to be described. Inorder to protect the master sheet C and to prevent it from being marredby the ribbon 22, a pair of spaced guards 23 is adjustably mounted onthe bail bar I, being held in adjusted position on the bar by means ofscrews 24, as more fully ex plained in the co-pending application ofGeorge F. Handley, Serial Number 170,451 previously re ferred to.

The ribbon supply means D includes a mounting'bracket comprising avertically disposed plate 25 supported on the carriage end plate 2 bymeans of arms 2t'26, and a ribbon-carrying spool 21 journaled on a stud28 fixed to the bracket plate 25. A nut 28 has threaded engagement withthe stud 28 and is adapted adjustably to press the spool 2? against africtional washer 3D for varying the resistance of the spool torotation, and hence for varying the tension of the ribbon 22.

In the form shown, the spool 21 is mounted in a vertical plane so as toreduce the over-all length of the carriage, and, in order to positionthe ribbon 22 properly along the printing line of the platen, it must betwisted partially. To this end there is provided a twisting and guidingmeans comprising a roller 3| rotatable about a horizontal axis andaguide member 32 which is positioned in a vertical plane but which isinclined at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees to thehorizontal. The ribbon 22 is led from the spool 21 underneath the roller3| and thence over the. guide member 32, and after leaving the guidemember 32 the ribbon passes between fingers 33 which maintain the ribbonproperly positioned along the printing line of the platen. It will beobserved that the treated surface of the ribbon 22 is disposed upwardlyas it passes under the guide member 3|. Hence, in order to preventrubbing of the transfer medium off the ribbon, the guide member 3|preferably is .mounted for free rotation, and thereby any harmfulrubbing of the treated surface of the ribbon is avoided.

The feeding means generally designated E is mounted at the end of thecarriage opposite that at which the ribbon supply means is supported.Some of the parts of the feeding means are mounted on the lower side ofthe shelf I3 which, as before stated, is formed as an extension of thecarriage end plate I. In the Royal standard typ-ewriting machine, aplate formed with a carriage return lever stop usually is positionedunderneath a shelf corresponding to the shelf I3. Positioning of such aplate under the shelf I3 in the construction disclosed herein wouldinterfere with the desired mounting of ribbon feeding parts. Accordinglya combined carriage return lever stop plate and spring tension mount orplate 34 is, in the present construction, supported on top of the shelfI3. This arrangement facilitates mounting of the ribbon feeding partscompactly under the shelf I3. A spring 35 isconnected at one end to theline spacing lever ment thereof. under the urge of the spring 35.

Cooperating with the shelf I3 for mounting the feeding mechanism is anextension bracket forming a lower shelf 39 secured to the carriage endplate I asat 40-40. A shaft 4| extends through an aperture 42 in theshelf I3 and through anv aperture 43 inthe lower shelf 39. The shaft isformed adjacent its upper end portion with an enlargement 44, andimmediately above this enlargement with another and smaller enlargement45 which abuts against the bottom face of the shelf I3. A spacing sleeve46 having an eccentric portion 46 is mounted on the shaft 4| above theplate I3, and is adapted to be clampedagainst the plate by means of anut 41 'on the extreme upper end of the shaft 4|. The

sleeve 46 may be rotated about the shaft 4| to cause the eccentricportion 46 to cooperate as a stopwith the line spacing lever' I4 atselected different positions in order to adjust the extent ofv movementof the line spacing lever required for proper cooperation with the linkI5, the rock arm II, the pawl I8, and the ratchet I9. In

:order to. effect anadjustment --ofthe eccentric 75 portion i4 6,thenut' 41 is loosened and the sleeve -46 is turned,.after which thenut 41 is drawn up so as both to lock the eccentric 46 in adjustedposition and at the same time to anchor the shaft 4| securely to theshelf I3.

A toothed or serrated feed roll 48 is mounted for rotation on the shaft4| below the shaft enlargement 44 and meshes with a feed roll 49 whichis journaled on a headed pintle 59 secured to an adjustable mount orplate 5| carried by the shelf I3 on the lower side thereof. The ribbon22 is trained between and gripped by the rolls 48 and 49, and is fed byrotation of the rolls in a manner later to be described.

In order to facilitate placement of the ribbon between the rolls, theplate 5|, and hence the pintle '58 and roller 49, are mounted formovements towards and away from the fixed axis roll 48. In accordancewith one feature of the invention, the plate 5| is mounted for bothsliding and pivotal movements with respect to the axis of the gear 48.As shown, the plate 5| is formed with an elongated slot 52 whichreceives the enlargement 45 of the shaft 4|. The enlargement 44 of theshaft, however, overlaps the slot 52 so as to maintain the inner end ofthe plate 5| against the lower side of the shelf I3. The front edge 53of theshelf I3 is slotted as at 54 andreceives for sliding movements theouter end portion of the plate'5I, thereby maintaining the plate snuglyagainst the bottom surface of the shelf I3. A spring 55 is connected atone end to a stud 56 on the adjustable plate 34, and is connected at itsother end to a stud 51, the reduced lower end of which has threadedconnection with the plate 5i. An eccentric 58 is held in place by thestud 51 and is positioned to engage the adjacent face of the shelf I3 soas to limit'movement of the plate 5| under the urge of the spring 55.The eccentric 58 may be turned to any desired position in orderselectively to fix the spacing of the rolls 48 and 49 so as to grip theribbon 22 with any desired pressure. A finger piece 59 is provided onthe plate 5| for moving the plate outwardly against the urge of thespring 55 so as to separate the rolls 48 and 49, to facilitate placingthe ribbon between them. In order to lock the plate 5| in its retractedposition, the plate is formed with a notch 60 adapted to cooperate witha notched edge 6| on an extension 62 of the carriage end plate I, asshown clearly in Figures '7 and 8. Thus, when it is desired to positionthe ribbon between the feed rolls, the plate 5| is moved toward theright as viewed in Figures 7 and 8 so as to separate the rolls. Afterthe notch 68 on the plate 5| has been moved outwardly past therelatively fixed notched edge 6 I, the plate 5| is moved pivotally aboutthe shaft 4! so as to cause the notch 60 to engage with the notched edge6|, which position of the parts is shown in Figure 8. The plate willthus be maintained in its retracted position, and the feed rolls therebyseparated. After the ribbon has been placed between the feed rolls, theplate 5| will be moved outwardly and upwardly from the position shown inFigure 8, and will then be permitted to move toward the left as viewedin Figures 7 and 8 under the urge of the spring 55 until the teeth ofthe rolls 48 and 49 are in mesh, and movement of the plate has beenarrested by the engagement of the eccentric stop 58 with the adjacentedge of the shelf I3. The combined sliding and pivotal movement of theplate 5| not only facilitates moving the plate into locked and unlockedretracted positions, but furthermore the pivotal movement during slidingmovement of the plate toward its operative or Figure 7 positionfacilitates meshing of the feed rolls 48 and 49.

In operation, the feed roll 48 is rotated during the return movement ofthe carriage and drives the idler feed roll 49 with which it meshes, thetwo cooperating to feed the ribbon 22 alongthe printing line of theplaten. The means for effecting this rotary movement of the roll 48constitutes an important feature of the invention, and, in theembodiment shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive, includes a take-up barrel63 journaled on a stud 64 fixed to the lower shelf 39, a collar 65 onthe upper end of the stud 64 serving to maintain the barrel in place. Ahelical spring 66 mounted within the barrel biases or urges-the barrelin a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. The barrel isoperatively connected to the feed roll 48 by means of a gear 61 securedto and rotatable in unison with the barrel and meshing with a gear 68which is mounted for rotation on and relative to a sleeve 69 which isjournaled on a pintle I9 fixed to the lower shelf 39. Fast on the sleeve69 is a gear 1| which meshes with a toothed roll 48. Below the gear 68the sleeve 69 is formed with a ratchet I2 which is adapted to be drivenby a pawl I3 pivotally mounted as at I4 on the gear 68 and is urged intoengagement with the ratchet by a spring I5 (see Figure '7). When thebarrel 63 and gear 61 thereon are rotated in the direction of the arrowa in Figure '7, the gear 68, ratchet I2, gear II, and feed rolls 48 and49 will be rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows b, c, d, e,and respectively, the rolls thereby drawing ribbon from the ribbonsupply spool 21 and feeding the ribbon along the printing line of theplaten.

It is desirable that no reverse rotation of the rolls 48 and 49 bepermitted. To prevent such reverse rotation, a check pawl I6 ispivotally mounted as at I! on the lower shelf 39 and is urged intoengagement with the ratchet I2 by means "of a spring I8. Hence reverserotation of the sleeve 69, the gear II, and roll 48 will be prevented bythe check pawl I6. Reverse rotation of the gear 68' will have no drivingeffect, since the pawl I3 will merely ride over the teeth of the ratchetI2 while the ratchet is held stationary by the check pawl I6.

As previously stated, the take-up barrel is urged in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Figure 1 by means of the spring 66. In order torotate the barrel in the opposite direction during return movement ofthe carriage,a flexible tape or draw band member I9 anchored to andperipherally engaging the barrel 63 extends from the barrel around anidler 88 onthe shelf 39,

thence around an idler 8| on a bracket '82 secured to the carriage endplate I, and thence passes longitudinally of the carriage and to therear of the platen and around an idler 83 mounted on a bracket 84secured to the carriage end plate 2. The flexible member I9 is thenturned upon itself and extends back in the opposite direction forconnection at 85 to a fixed frame part such as the tabular finger cover86. Movement of the carriage relative to the main frame will cause theband or tape I9 to be wound upon or unwound from the barrel 63, therebyeffecting rotation of the barrel, and with it the gear 61, so as tooperate the feed rolls in the manner already described.

In operation, the ribbon 22 first is trained under the guide roll 3|,over the guide 32, between the fingers 33,:and thence along the printingline of the .platenso as .to .lie between the platen and the mastersheet C as shown in Figure 9. The plate.5| is then moved to the positionshown in Figure 8 in order to separate the feed rollers. The ribbon 22is then positioned between the rollers, and'the plate is returned to theFigure '7 position, wherein the ribbon will be gripped by the rollers.Assuming that the carriage is at the right hand end of its travel, asviewed in Figure 1, typing of a line will be performed in a knownmanner, causing the carriage to move to the left relative to the frame.During such movement, the tape 19 will be wound up on the barrel 63,permitting rotation of the barrel in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in Figure l, which, as previously stated, will not effectrotation of the feeding rolls. When the typing of the line has beencompleted, the carriage will be moved to the right, which will cause thetape or band 19 tobe unwound from the barrel 63, thereby rotating thebarrel in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, and this rotationof the barrel will effect driving of the rolls 48 and 49 through themedium of the gear 67, the gear 68, the pawl 73, the ratchet 72, thesleeve 69, and the gear 1| in the manner already described. Thisrotation of the feed rolls of course will draw the ribbon off the supplyspool 25, feeding it along the printing line of the platen. It isdesirable that, after the typing of a line, a length of ribbon bearing afixed ratio to the length of the line just typed be fed along theplaten, and it is preferable that the length of ribbon fed be equal tothe length of the line just typed. Accordingly, the peripheral extent ofthe barrel 63 and the diameters of the several feed roll driving gearsare such that the length of ribbon fed by the rolls will be just equalto the length of the platen travel during the preceding letter spacemovement of the carriage. In order to maintain such a fixed ratio, theperipheral extent of the barrel 63 is so related to the carriage travelthat there never will be more than a single convolution of the band 19surrounding the barrel, because, if more than one convolution were woundupon the barrelin other words, if the band were wound first upon theperiphery of the barrel and then upon itselfthe drive ratio would vary,depending upon the number of convolutions, and this, as previouslystated, is not desirable. The proportioning of the parts in accordancewith the present invention assures the presentation of a completely newand unused portion of the transfer medium ribbon along the line oftyping before the start of each new line, and the quality ofreproduction upon the master sheet C therefore is enhanced.

Figure shows a feeding mechanism in which the feed rolls 48 and 49 arearranged to be operated when the carriage return lever I4 is actuated tomove the carriage to the right after the typing of a line has beencompleted. In this construction, the carriage return lever I4 is formedwith a rearwardly projecting extension 88, the extreme rear end of whichis T-shaped, and serves to mount a gear segment 89 which is secured asat 98 to the arm 88 of the carriage return lever. The segment 89 isarranged to mesh with a small pinion 9| mounted on a pintle 92 supportedby a bracket 93 secured to the shelf [3, and a disc 94, also rotatableabout the pintle 92, is secured to the pinion 9| so as to rotate inunison therewith. A driving pawl 95 is pivotally mounted on the disc 94as at 96, and is arranged to engage the teeth of a ratchet 91 which isfast with a large gear wheel 98 rotatable about the pintle 92. The

arrangement is such that, when the pinion 9| and disc 94 are rotated ina counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 10, the gear 98 will bedriven in the same direction through the medium of the pawl 95 and theratchet wheel 91. The gear 98 is in constant mesh with the feed roll 48,so that the counterclockwise movement of the gear 98 will drive the feedrolls 48 and 49 in a direction to effect feeding of the ribbon or strip22. In order to prevent rotation of the gear wheel 98 in the reversedirection, a check pawl 99 is pivotally mounted as at IUD on anextension Hll of the carriage end plate I.

In operation, and assuming that the typing of a line has just beencompleted, the line spacing lever M will be actuated in the usual mannerto effect line spacing movement of the platen 3 and also to return thecarriage to its right hand position preparatory to typing a new line.This will result in rocking of the line spacing lever in acounterclockwise direction about the pivot l5, whereby the pinion 9|will be driven in a counter clockwise direction by the gear segment 89so as to drive the feed rolls 48 and 49 through the medium of the disc94, the pawl 95, the ratchet 91, and the gear wheel 98. In theconstruction shown in Figure 10, the oscillatory segment 89 and othergears are so proportioned as to provide speed multiplying gearingbetween the line spacing lever and the feed roll 48, whereby operationof the line spacing lever effects a plurality of revolutions of the feedroll. The relative pitch diameters of the gear segment 89, the pinion9|, the gear wheel 98, and the feed roll 48 are such that this operationwill result in the feeding of a relatively long strip of ribbon 22corresponding substantially in length to the length of an average typedline so as to present a fresh portion of transfer medium ribbon alongthe line of typing before the start of each new line.

The typewriting machine disclosed herein embodies the invention in apreferred form, but it will be understood that various changes may bemade in the construction and relative arrangement of the parts withoutdeparting from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, a support; a first feed roll journaled onsaid support; a member mounted on said support for sliding movementswith respect to said first feed roll and for pivotal movements about theaxis of rotation of said first feed roll as a center; a second feed rolljournaled on said member; a spring for urging said member in a directionto effect operative connection between said rolls; and a notch on saidmember engageable with said support for retaining said member againstthe urge of said spring in a position wherein the second roll is freefrom operative connection with the first feed roll.

2. In a typewriting machine, a support; a shaft thereon; a first feedroll rotatable on said shaft; a plate mounted on said support forsliding movements with respect to said shaft and for pivotal movementsabout the axis of the shaft as a center and being formed with anelongated slot receiving said shaft, said shaft constitutinga guide forsuch movements of said plate; and a second feed roll mounted on saidplate and being selectively engageable and disengageable with said firstfeed roll by movement of said plate.

3. In a typewriting machine, a platen; means for directing a ribbonalong the writing line of the platen; a support; a toothed firstribbon-engaging feed roll journaled on said support; a

member mounted on said support for both sliding and pivotal movementswith respect to said first feed roll; and a toothed secondribbon-engaging feed roll journalled on said member, sliding movement ofsaid member in opposite directions respectively effecting intermeshingengagement and disengagement of said rolls adjacent an end of thewriting line of the platen, engagement of said rolls serving to gripribbon for feeding it therebetween, and pivotal movement of said memberfacilitating registration of the teeth of the rolls.

4. In a typewriting machine, a platen; means for directing a ribbonalong the writing line of the platen; a support; a first ribbon-engagingtoothed feed roll journaled on said support; a member mounted on saidsupport for both sliding and pivotal movements with respect to saidfirst feed roll; a second ribbon-engaging toothed feed roll journaled onsaid member; a spring for urging said member in adirection to effectoperative meshing connection between said rolls adjacent an end of thewriting line of the platen, engagement of said rolls serving to gripribbon for feeding it therebetween; and stop means other than said feedrolls for limiting movement of said member and movement of said secondroll towards said first roll.

5. In a typewriting machine, a support; a first toothed feed rolljournaled on said support; a member mounted on said support for bothsliding and pivotal movements with respect to said first feed roll; asecond toothed feed roll journaled on said member; a spring for urgingsaid member in a direction to effect operative meshing connectionbetween said rolls; and adjustable stop means other than said feed rollsfor limiting movement of said member and movement of said second rolltowards said first roll.

6. In a typewriting machine, a relatively fixed support member; a firsttoothed feed roll journaled thereon; a relatively movable member mountedon said relatively fixed member for both sliding and pivotal movements;a second toothed feed roll journaled on said relatively movable member;a spring for urging said relatively movable member in a direction toeifect operative meshing connection between said rolls; and anadjustable eccentric stop mounted on one of said members and beingengageable with the other said member for limiting movement of therelatively movable member under the urge of said spring and movement ofsaid second roll towards said first roll.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a frame; a carriagemounted for letter spacing and return movements thereon; a platenmounted on the carriage for rotary line spacing movements; ahorizontally extending shelf at one end of the carriage; a plate mountedon the top of the shelf; ribbon feed roll mechanism mounted underneathsaid shelf and including a feed roll shaft extending through andupwardly beyond said shelf and through said plate; a sleeve mounted forturning adjustment on the portion of said shaft above said shelf; a linespacing lever mounted on said shelf and being operatively connected tothe platen; an eccentric stop portion on said sleeve engageable by saidline spacing lever when the lever is moved in one direction; and a stopon said plate cooperable with said line spacing lever When the lever ismoved in the opposite direction.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a frame; a carriagemounted thereon for letter-spacing and return movements; a platenmounted on the carriage; a ribbon spool, means on said carriage mountingsaid spool beyond one end of the carriage; a rotary ribbon feedingdevice, means on said carriage mounting said device beyond the oppositeend of the carriage and in line with the front face of the platen; aribbon extending from said ribbon spool along the printing line of theplaten and cooperatively engaging said feeding device; a barrel; meanson said carriage journalling said barrel beyond said opposite end of thecarriage and tothe rear of said ribbon feeding device; drivingconnections between said barrel and said device; a flexible bandperipherally engaging said barrel and being anchored thereto; and meansguiding the band to a point behind the carriage and thence in rear ofthe carriage in the direction of carriage movement, the end of said bandbeing connected to said frame.

JOHN J. KITTEL.

